Walling, Williamson talk jobs

The two candidates for mayor of Flint hosted competing news conferences Wednesday just a half hour apart with the mayor touting job creation efforts and his challenger accusing him of empty promises.

"My opponent has a long and established record of promising jobs when every election comes around and then not delivering on any of those promises," challenger Dayne Walling said in a 2:30 p.m. news conference at the Windmill Place.

Mayor Don Williamson at a 3 p.m. news conference at the gates of the former Buick City site said a planned intermodal site there could create 500 jobs and a recycling center another 500.

And, he detailed hundreds of jobs at other businesses including a new engine plant on Van Slyke Road, the new plant promised in the UAW contract and businesses located near Bishop Airport.

"Desperate people can do and say desperate things," Williamson said about Walling's criticism.

Walling pointed to Williamson's promise in 2004 for a city-owned manufacturing plant, which never materialized, and Williamson's claim in Monday's debate that the intermodal center would bring in 5,000 jobs.

Williamson also presented Tim Herman, chamber CEO, a check for $250,000, a city contribution to the agency.

Herman said the city is the agency's largest contributor to economic development efforts through the chamber and that he is confident Buick City will house an intermodal center although negotiations are ongoing.